Heating Control Activation Feature

ABSTRACT

In a building&#39;s heating/cooling system which is controlled/operated by an electronic heating/HVAC control, this invention is the feature of time limited operation and automatic expiration of some or all of the operation of the heating control&#39;s functions, and thus operation of the building&#39;s heating/cooling system, unless or until an activation code or key is input via an interface into the electronic heating control, thereby facilitating permanent and continuous operation of the building&#39;s heating/cooling system. Primary use of this invention is to assure payment to the manufacturer and/or installer of the heating control and/or building&#39;s heating/cooling system, while the initial time-limited operation provides a grace period for installation, start-up, and testing of the system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

see Application Data Sheet

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Definitions (as accepted by the plumbing and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) industries) used throughout this patent:

Heating control, also commonly referred to as a “heating controller, HVAC controller, A/C controller,” though it may be known by other terms as well: is defined as the electrical and/or electronic components controlling a building's heating and/or air conditioning and/or domestic hot water system.

Building heating system: is defined as a mechanism consisting of various elements connected to a heating control for the purposes of heating and/or cooling a building and/or generating hot water for the use of its occupants. These elements can include any or any combination of, but are not limited to, the following: boilers, furnaces, heat pumps, air conditioning units, sensors, thermistors, aquastats, thermostats, differential controllers, and heat collection systems including solar, geothermal, and bio mass.

The invention pertains generally to heating or HVAC controls. More specifically, the invention relates to heating controls associated with building heating, cooling and hot water systems. In particular, this invention provides a unique ability to automatically suspend operations of the heating control's functions and thereby the building's heating system after a limited (probationary) time unless activated through an interface.

This invention came about to address an issue brought to the forefront in the housing downturn of 2007/08. Many heating contractors were caught without recourse for defaulted payment for completed work. The law in many jurisdictions states that once a product is installed into a building it becomes part of that building; therefore installed materials cannot be repossessed. Thus, a different method of insuring receipt of due payment was needed for the industry, and this invention answers that need.

There are a number of heating controls currently manufactured, but none has the feature of this invention, and any existing heating controls would have to be substantially redesigned and remanufactured to allow for this invention to operate within them.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ITS BENEFITS

The primary purpose of the Heating Control Activation Feature (HCAF) is to protect the manufacturer, sellers, and/or installers of a heating control and/or building heating system against fraud and nonpayment situations. It is completely in keeping with any applicable laws in that nothing installed is ever removed or repossessed from a premises if the HCAF is put to use. However, it provides strong incentive for payment to be made.

The invention is the built-in feature of time-limited (probationary) operation of a heating control's functions (and thereby the building heating system which is connected to it), in which operation automatically ceases after a predetermined time unless activated by means of an input via an interface.

A heating control containing the invention has an unlimited storage or “shelf-life”. Once it is installed and turned on, however, the Heating Control Activation Feature (HCAF) becomes active and allows the control to operate for the pre-programmed time-limited period (for example, 30 or 60 days), to allow for testing, etc., of the heating control and building heating system. To allow permanent operation of the control and system, an activation code must be entered into the HCAF via an interface; if this is not done, the heating control and thus the building's heating system will cease to function until such a time as the activation code is entered. The activation code can be held by the initial seller (ie: the manufacturer/wholesaler) of the control/system until he is assured of payment, at which time he gives the activation code to the buyer (ie: the installer). Once that buyer/installer is assured of payment from his customer he activates the HCAF for permanent operation.

The resultant benefits are far-reaching. The invention reduces the costs of credit due to late payment and reduces the risk of high-value delinquent and defaulted payment. The reduction of risk benefits the consumer through passed down efficiencies and the costs of delinquent customers being mitigated and not being passed on to the overall customer base. An added macroeconomic benefit is that even in less certain economic situations when historically contractors/installers will reduce risk by not installing heating systems, this invention alleviates their fears by ensuring due payment, thus helping to stabilize a part of the housing and building industries to carry on in less than ideal economic conditions. Additionally, the invention can help reduce jobsite theft, since the HCAF will make the heating control of limited use due to its expiry. Without the proper activation code it becomes worthless to the thief, reducing another significant risk and associated cost to business, insurance, and consumer alike. The invention is simple and no more difficult to use than any conventional heating controls. It can be seen that this invention provides a unique heating control operation which successfully mitigates risk, encourages use, and is of economic benefit to business and the public.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the Heating Control Activation Feature is comprised of:

1) An enclosure, which may be fabricated of multiple moldings of insulative materials, or sometimes also of metal. The enclosure is defined generally as a box to hold the electrical and electronic components of the invention.

2) Electrical terminals attached to the enclosure for inputs from sensors, thermostats, aquastats, etc., and terminals for outputs to connect to pumps, valves, heating/cooling sources, etc.

3) A status readout/display screen (optional)

4) An activation interface(s) which may take various forms and be in various locations on or in the enclosure, such as input buttons, ethernet, wireless, or other.

5) Microprocessor control and/or hard or soft switching and a timing function to facilitate activation/expiry.

6) Any other minor components, wires, hardware, relays, etc., which may be required for functioning of the above.

A mechanical embodiment of this invention (as in the prototype) functions with the existence of two power paths (for example, path A and path B) from the HCAF to the logic control of the heating controller, utilizing soft switching. The first power path (A) runs through a timed switch to the functioning logic of the heating controller (the part that runs the logic of the incoming and outgoing signals). This first timed switch (A) latches (closes) upon initial installation and power-up, however, without activation the timed circuit will unlatch (open) at the expiry time and some or all of the heating controller function is discontinued. There is a second power path (B) to the functioning logic of the heating controller which is initially unlatched (open). Correct input via the activation interface signals multiple latching switches in path B. When these switches are closed in the correct order (the activation code) they signal the latching switch (B) to close permanently, creating an alternate path to power the control functions and superseding the timed switch (A) which allowed for the probationary time period. Firmware/software programming would emulate this mechanical functioning and may be the preferred embodiment for production units of this invention. It would duplicate the same function by using soft switching or logic changes to create the same result.

The activation codes would be set by the manufacturer and be unique to each HCAF unit. The desired expiry times also would be set by the manufacturer, and may be tailored to what their market requires.

Method of activation (alpha-numeric, encrypted or other) may be through any interface at the controller, for example: keypad, wireless, internet or other current or future technology. Depending upon the specific method, activation may or may not require someone to physically be on site to do it. Activation method may be via any of various means without altering the spirit of the invention.

After activation, the operation of the HCAF becomes permanent and cannot be reversed. The expiry of the probationary period cannot be influenced by resetting or restarting the HCAF or heating control nor by disconnecting either power or communication cables to HCAF or controller. Activation may be done at any time before or after expiry of the probationary period. (For example, the heating control could be activated immediately upon installation if deemed prudent by the installer/contractor, for instance, in a building contract with secure or pre-payment terms; otherwise the activation can be delayed until payment is received.) If activation occurs before the probationary period expires, operation continues uninterrupted and becomes permanent. If activation occurs after the probationary period has expired and operation has ceased, operation can be reactivated at any time with activation code input via the interface. If the probationary period does expire before activation, once activation occurs, the HCAF heating control will immediately resume full and permanent operation without any need for reprogramming, replacement of parts, or any other change or damage to the control having taken place.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it should be understood that various modifications, additions and alterations may be made to the invention by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A heating/HVAC control for use in building heating/cooling applications which includes the feature of a limited time or probationary time period of operation, which allows for installation and normal operations to begin, followed at the end of that time period by either 1) permanent operation of the heating control if initiated by activation, or 2) automatic discontinuance of operation of some or all of the heating controller's functions if not initiated by activation.
 2. The heating control recited in claim 1 in which the activation feature is either built into the control hardware or programmed by software or firmware.
 3. The heating control recited in claim 2 which includes an interface by which externally initiated activation occurs.
 4. The heating control recited in claim 3 wherein the activation may take place either before expiry or after expiry of the probationary period.
 5. The heating control recited in claim 4 wherein if activation occurs before the expiry of the probationary period, heating control operation continues uninterrupted.
 6. The heating control recited in claim 4 wherein if the probationary period expires without activation, operation of some or all of the heating control functions automatically cease without any inputs required, until such time as it is activated by inputs via the interface.
 7. The heating control recited in claim 6 wherein if the probationary period expires without activation, once activation does occur, normal operations resume without damage or need for reprogramming the control.
 8. The heating control recited in claim 4 wherein heating control operation becomes permanent once activation takes place. 